M.Sc in Biochemistry

The Department of Biochemistry at Panjab University, Chandigarh was established in 1962. The Department offers an integrated five years M.Sc. programme after 12 years of schooling. The students are also enrolled for research leading to the award of Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry. The faculty members of the department are engaged in the research in the area of biochemical carcinogenesis and biochemical toxicology, urolithiasis and membrane transport and enzymes. The department can help the Biochemical, Nutritional and Pharmaceutical industries in providing the requisite expertise in the areas of analyses, absorpion and studies of biological effects of various biochemicals useful to the humans.

Scope of Biochemistry
The discipline of Biochemistry today occupies a pivotal position in Teaching and Research of all Biological and Bio-Medical Sciences. The fields of Agriculture, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences are incomplete without a sound knowledge of Biochemistry. Recent advances in Bio-technology and its Industrial applications have been possible only due to a thorough understanding of the underlying .principles of Biochemistry. This department produces students with sound background of theoretical and experimental Biochemistry. The students completing their B.Sc. (Hons. School) easily find placements at Postgraduate level in Indian and Foreign Universities of repute. After passing their M.Sc. degree from this department they are absorbed in Government and private sector enterprises dealing with any of the aforementioned areas. In view of the advances made by Biochemistry in clinical diagnostics, it has also a very good scope of self-employment.

The M.Sc. (Hons. School) in Biochemistry is a two year integrated course. The courses of study at M.Sc. Part-1 level include highly specialized papers in theory viz. Advanced Molecular Biology. Advanced Enzymology, Applications of Biochemistry to Biotechnology, Neuro-Biochemisiry. Clinical Biochemistry and Bio-Chemical Toxicology alongwith a course each in Biostalistics and Computational Techniques. At the M.Sc. Part-11 level, apart from the Seminars and Journal Clubs, a student has to work for the research thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the M.Sc. degree.